Russian can divide Latvia

In Latvia, the citizens' initiative Mother Tongue on Tuesday started to gather signatures for giving Russian the status of a second official language. The online daily Ir warns of the consequences: "On the international level it would mean Russian would automatically become an official language of the EU - an long cherished dream of the Kremlin. Domestically it would create a deep fissure in Latvian society, which has only now become integrated to a certain degree, the consequences of which would be felt for at least a generation. If enough signatures are gathered - for now the forecasts fluctuate greatly - and if parliament rejects the initiative, a referendum will have to be held.  And that, once again, with taxpayers' money. ... The demand for the ideas of greater Russian chauvinism still exists. The result of the petition will show how large this demand is, and whether it has the potential to menace the phenomenon of 'peaceful coexistence' that has been observed in Latvia since independence."

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